New Year Traditions Around the World from New York to Japan!
- Times Square Celebrations The first Ball Lowering celebration atop One Times Square was held on December 31, 1907 and is now a worldwide symbol of the turn of the New Year, seen via satellite by more than one billion people each year. The original New Year’s Eve Ball weighed 700 pounds and was 5 feet in diameter. It was made of iron and wood and was decorated with 100 25-watt light bulbs.
- It was thought that one could affect the luck they would have throughout the coming year by what they did or ate on the first day of the year. It is still held in some regions that special New Year foods are the harbingers of luck. For that reason, the Dutch believe that eating donuts on New Year’s Day will bring good fortune. The hog, and its meat, is considered lucky because it symbolizes prosperity. Cabbage is another “good luck” vegetable that is consumed on New Year’s Day by many. Cabbage leaves are also considered a sign of prosperity, being representative of paper currency. In some regions, rice is a lucky food that is eaten on New Year’s Day. The ancient Persians gave New Year’s gifts of eggs, which symbolized productiveness.
- Black-eyed peas Many parts of the U.S. have a new year tradition of consuming black-eyed peas. These legumes are typically accompanied by either hog jowls or ham. Black-eyed peas and other legumes have been considered good luck in many cultures.
- New Year Rings Many cultures believe that anything in the shape of a ring is good luck, because it symbolizes “coming full circle,” completing a year’s cycle.
- Wearing new slippers For the new year in China, many people wear in the new year a new pair of slippers that is bought before the new year, because it means to step on the people who gossip about you.
- Sealed doors & windows During the Chinese New Year the doors and windows of every home in china can be seen sealed with paper. The Chinese think that this will succeed in keep the evil demons out.
- Jewish New Year The Jewish New Year is called Rosh Hashanah. It is a holy time when Jews recall the things they have done wrong in the past, and then promise to do better in the future. Special services are held in the synagogues, children are given new clothes and New Year loaves are baked to remind people of harvest time.
- American Resolutions 40 to 45% of American adults make one or more New Year’s resolutions each year. And these range from debt reduction to giving up bad habits to what not? But the ones that are the most common deal with weight loss to exercise to giving up smoking.
- Japanese New Year On New Year’s Day in Japan, everyone gets dressed in their new clothes. Homes are decorated with pine branches and bamboo, both of which are considered to be the symbols of long life.
For more New Year’s Traditions – Check Out the
To learn more about the Dos and Taboos for different cultures, and the cultural communication styles for Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East – order Gayle Cotton’s bestselling book ‘SAY Anything to Anyone, Anywhere! 5 Keys to Successful Cross-Cultural Communication’ available on Amazon as a Book, eBook, or Audio Book
Watch the ‘Say Anything-5 Keys’ Video
Create Rapport and Organize Strategies for Success
The CROSS of Cross-Cultural
Emmy Award Winner, Gayle Cotton, is the author of this blog and of the bestselling cross-cultural communication book ‘SAY Anything to Anyone, Anywhere! 5 Keys to Successful Cross-Cultural Communication’, which is available on Amazon as a Book, eBook, or Audio Book. She is President of Circles Of Excellence Inc. and a Professional Keynote Speaker. Contact Gayle if you need professional speakers for events, speakers on cultural diversity, conference speakers for events, or keynote speakers that specialize in cross-cultural training. She is a leader in the field of public speakers, motivational speakers, and international keynote speakers. She is among the best of female keynote speakers and women motivational speakers, and is a ‘first choice’ request for international audiences!
Circles Of Excellence provides Corporate Training, Leadership Coaching, and Professional Keynote Speakers for companies of all sizes and in all industries, including over 50 Fortune 500 companies. Contact us about our customized training programs for Communication Skills, Cross-Cultural Communication, Cultural Diversity, Customer Service, Leadership Coaching, Presentation Skills, Sales Negotiations, Stress Management, Teambuilding, and Time Management Training.
Circles Of Excellence Website: www.circlesofexcellence.com
Circles Of Excellence Blog: www.circlesofexcellence.com/blog
Gayle’s Website: www.gaylecotton.com
Gayle’s Blog: www.gaylecotton.com/blog
Gayle’s Bestselling Book: SAY Anything to Anyone Anywhere!
Gayle’s Newsroom: Media Interviews
Gayle’s DVD: Speaker preview for Gayle Cotton
Tags: american resolutions, Chinese new year, circles of excellence, circlesofexcellence.com, communication guidelines, communication skills, communication styles for Asia Pacific, conference speakers for events, corporate training, cross cultural communication book, cross cultural training, cross-cultural communication, cultural communication styles for Asia Pacific, cultural diversity, cultural taboos, cultural tips, cultural tips for countries, customer service, customized training programs, customized training programs for communication skills, female keynote speakers, gayle cotton, gaylecotton.com, global business etiquette, intercultural communication, international keynote speakers, japanese new year, jewish new year, keynote speakers, leadership coaching, motivational speakers, new year, new year foods, new year in china, new year loaves, new year rings, new year tradition, new year traditions, new year traditions around the world, new year’s day in japan, new years day, new years eve ball, new years gifts, new years resolutions, presentation skills, professional keynote speaker, professional keynote speakers, professional speakers for events, public speakers, sales and negotiations, speakers on cultural diversity, stress management, successful cross cultural communication, taboos for different cultures, teambuilding, time management training, times square celebrations, tips for intercultural communication, training programs for communication skills, women motivational speakers